Safety locks



May 2, 968 E. E. WELCH ETAL 3,384,406

SAFETY LOCKS Filed May 5l, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 wg/Aem, Mie( 11424;

E. E. WELCH ETAL 3,384,406

May 2l, i968 SAFETY LOCKS 2 Sheets-Sheet 22 Filed May 3l, 1966 UnitedStates Patent O 3,384,406 SAFETY LOCKS Earl E. Welch, Madison, andBernard P. Rosser, Covent Station, NJ., assignors to Wel-Kids, Inc.,Madison, NJ., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 31, 1966, Ser. No.553,864 9 Claims. (Cl. 292-248) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A lockingdevice adapted to be secured to a cabinet or other container to preventchildren from opening the container. The lock has a pair of arms whichare hinged together at one end. The arms are arranged in overlappingrelation with each other. Each arm has a hole adjacent the free end ofthe arm and the holes may be aligned to receive a locking pin byswinging the arms into alignment. The arms are biased away from thealigned position. A clutch or locking member is mounted between the armsto prevent the arms from being moved into alignment. By manipulating theclutch which urges the arms into alignment, the arm holes may be broughtinto alignment, thereby permitting the arms to be separated from thelocking pin. The locking pin is secured on one portion of the containerand the arms are mounted on another portion, so that the locking devicespans the container closure.

This invention relates to improvements in safety locks of the characterused on various household containers, to prevent easy access thereto bychildren.

It has long been well known that children gain access to medicinecabinets, drawers, kitchen cupboards and the like, due to the simple andeasy manner in which such access is usually available and thereby comeinto contact with medicines, detergents, sharp edged implements, and thelike. Danger and injury to such children is often the result of sucheasy access.

Key locks for such containers that would exclude children from accessthereto would also present problems of having the appropriate keysavailable when a housholder or adult wants to gain access thereto, andyet no effective means has been provided heretofore for preventing theaccess by children without serious interference with the availability ofaccess to adults and other responsible persons.

One object of this invention is to overcome these objections and toprovide for effective closing of containers against ready access bychildren while permitting of easy access from grown-ups and otherresponsible persons.

Another object of the invention is to improve the Construction of locksto prevent the simple opening thereof except on multiple manipulations,such for example as with different hands, whereby these may not bereadily released by children.

These objects may be accomplished, according to one embodiment of theinvention, by providing a clasp having two overlapping arms which arejoined together at one end for relative swinging movement and may beconnected with one part of the cabinet or container. Each of the armshas a hole a'pproximately at the center thereof, adapted to he broughtinto alignment upon relative swinging motion of the arms with respect toeach other. A locking mem-ber is positioned between the arms, with a U-shaped slot for receiving pins projecting inwardly from the arms.

The U-shaped member normally would prevent relative swinging motion ofthe arms and yet, when this member is manipulated, the arms are readilymoved relative thereto, to release a pin engaged in the alignedopenings. This pin may be connected with another removable part of the v3,384,406 Patented May 21, 1968 "ice container, such for example as thedrawer of a cabinet. The compound motion requires separate manipulationof two elements, which makes the clasp readily releasable by an adult orother responsible person and yet could not be readily opened by a smallchild.

This embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a cabinet device, showing the lockapplied thereto;

FIG. 2-is a view at right angles to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the clasp structure in position forreleasing;

FIG. 4 is a similar view in the locked position;

FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view on the line 5-5 in FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is an end elevation thereof;

FIG. 7 is a cross section on the line 7 7 in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of one of the arms detached;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the lock member detached; and

FIG. 1() is a longitudinal sectional view through a clasp, showingmodifications therein.

The invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 as applied to a cabinet,generally indicated by the numeral 1, and which has a drawer 2 slidablymounted within the body portion of the cabinet, capable of beingwithdrawn relative thereto. Provision is made for locking the drawer 2against ready withdrawal or release from the cabinet 1 and yet to permitof release thereof when the lock is released by an adult.

In the illustrated embodiment of this invention, a clasp is illustratedgenerally at 3, being supported on a strap or other suitable support 4,mounted at 5 on the front portion of the cabinet 1. The clasp 3 isadapted for locking connection with the drawer 2 by means of a pin 6supported on a strap or other suitable means, indicated at 7, attachedin a suitable manner, as by a fastening 8, to the front of the drawer 2.Thus, when the clasp 3 is in locking engagement with the pin 6, as shownin FIGS. 3 and 4, the drawer 2 cannot be opened, but this safety lock iscapable of ready release by an adult or other responsible person.

The clasp 3 comprises a pair of upper and lower arms 9 and 10, one endof which is pivoted at 11. The pivot 11 may also serve to connect thearms 9 and 10 to the strap or fastening device 4. The arms 9 and 10 arein the form of elongated plates inverted in face-to-face relation.

As stated, these plates are pivotally connected at one end 11. At theopposite end of each plate is provided a guiding hook 12 extendingtransversely and having an offset hook portion 13 spaced from theadjacent face of the plate forming the arm a distance suicient toreceive under the hook 13 an edge portion of the other coacting plate. Arecess 14 is formed in this edge portion, within which the hook 13 isreceived, so as to insure of the maintenance of proper alignment of theend portions of the plates 9 and 10 as these plates swing transverselyrelative to each other in the manner shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Grooves 15 are formed in the opposing faces of the respective plates 9and 10, having longitudinally extending shoulders 16 in the transverselyopposed portions of the respective arms 9 and 10. A leaf spring 17, inthe form of a bowed spring, is received in the channel 15, with the endsof this leaf spring bearing upon the shoulders 16 normally tending toseparate the arms, swinging them laterally relative to each other, asillustrated in FIG. 4.

Each of the arms 9 and 10 has a hole 18 therethrough, locatedapproximately midway of the Width of the arm and with an offset portion19 at one side of the hole 18 in position to be aligned with a similaroffset or notched 3 portion 19 of the other arm when these are movedapart by the action of the spring 17, as shown in FIG. 4. This is thelocked position.

The holes 18 receive therethrough the pin 6, and when the arms arespread apart, as shown in FIG. 4, the pin is incapable of beingwithdrawn from the openings because the head 6 is larger than thediameter of the aligned recesses 19 in this position of the device.However, when the arms are pressed together, as shown in FIG. 3, theholes 18 are aligned and these are of sufficiently large diameterrelative to the head 6 that the pin and its head can be withdrawnreadily from these aligned holes 18.

The lateral pressure on the two arms may be applied by pressing inwardon the edges of the arms. However, to facilitate such pressure, the armsmay be provided, if desired, with plates or thumb press members,generally indicated at 20. One of these plates 20 is attached to alateral edge of each of the arms 9 and 10, according to the illustratedembodiment of the invention.

A lock member, generally indicated at 21, is slidably received betweenthe shoulders 16 on the inner faces of the opposed plates forming thearms 9 and 10. This lock member 21 normally is urged outward by suitablespring means, such as leaf springs 22, bearing against the inner end ofthe lock member.

Each ofthe leaf springs 22 is anchored at its outer end in a slot 23formed in a lateral portion of one of the plates forming the arms 9 and10. The outer end of the lock member 21 is provided with a thumb pressportion, generally indicated at 24. This portion 24 is externally of theend of the arms 9 and 10 and may be formed as a small plate attached tothe adjacent end of the lock member 21, as for example by being cast orotherwise formed integral therewith.

The lock member 21 has a U-shaped slot 25 formed therein and whichreceives a pair of lugs 26 formed as abutments or projections on theinner faces of the plates, comprising the arms 9 and 10. These abutments26 should be so positioned with respect to the arms that they will bebrought substantially into abutting relation when the arms are movedinward to their releasing position, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in whichposition they will be located approximately midway of the length of theU- shaped slot 25 in the straight base portion of that slot.

However, when the arms 9 and 10 are released, they will be spread apartby the leaf spring 17, which action will cause the lugs 26 to moveoutward in the slot 25 to the `ends of the latter, and the lock member21 then will be pushed lengthwise of the arms 9 and 10 by the springs 22to dispose the lugs 26 in the end portions of the U- shaped slot 25, asshown in FIG. 4.

This will make it impossible for the clasp to be released until the lockmember 21 has been manually pushed inward and held in its inwardposition while the arms 9 and are moved inward to the position shown inFIG. 3. This compound movement is difiicult for performance by anuntrained child, but is readily apparent to an adult or otherresponsible person who can easily release the locking device.

The operation and use of the safety lock will be apparent from theforegoing explanation. When applied to a cabinet or other container, itmay be used to maintain the latter in closed relation until suitableprecautions are observed for release of the contents. This safety lockmay be applied to drawers, closures or other fastening devices toprevent children from gaining access to medicine cabinets, kitchencupboards and other containers where injury may result therefrom. At thesame time, it can be easily and readily released by a compound motion ofan adult without requiring a key or complicated releasing action.

The invention is shown in a modified form in FIG. 10, wherein the pairof arms indicated at 29 and 30 are urged apart by a coiled spring 31housed within aligned openings 32 in opposed portions of the platesforming the arms. In this form also the thumb press members, indicatedat 34, are secured to the edge portions of the respective arm portions29 and 30 by pins 33.

Thus, separate plates may be used and easily applied to the edgeportions of the respective arms to form the thumb press portions formanipulating the arms. In other respects, this form of the invention isconstructed and operates in the manner described above with respect toFIGS. 1 to 9.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in certainembodiments, it is recognized that variations and changes may be madetherein without departing from the invention as set forth in the claims.

We claim:

1. A safety lock comprising a pair of members adapted to be connectedwith one part to be latched, said members being hinged together adjacentone end on a cornmon pivot, said members being movable in a lateraldirection relative to each other between first and second lateralpositions, a pin adapted to be connected with a second part, means forretaining said pin in secure engagement with the pair of members uponrelative lateral movement of said members to saidfirst position, saidretaining means releasing said pin from engagement with said membersupon relative lateral movement of said members to said second position,and a lock member adjacent the opposite end of said members forpreventing movement of the pair of members from said first to saidsecond positions, said lock members being movable relative to the pairof members in a direction substantially perpendicular to said lateraldirection between a locked position and an unlocked position, abutmentmeans 0n said members in positionfor cooperating with said lock memberin said locked position to prevent said lateral movement of said membersand in said unlocked position to allow said lateral movement, and meansyieldably urging said lock member toward said locked position.

2. A safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the retaining meansincludes aligned holes through the pair of members for slidablyreceiving the pin therein.

3. A safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the retaining meansincludes aligned holes through the pair of members for slidablyreceiving the pin and with offset portions of the holes in complementaryrelation when the members are moved to said first position relative toeach other, and means on the pin for preventing withdrawal of the pinwhen the members are in the first position.

4. A safety lock according to claim 1, including spring means interposedbetween the members biasing said members toward said first position,said members each having an outer lateral edge, said lateral edge of onemember being on the opposite side of said retaining means from thelateral edge of the other member, said lock member being spaced agreater distance from said retaining means when in said locked positionthan when in said unlocked position, whereby said member lateral edgesand said lock member are moved toward said retaining means in releasingsaid pin from said members.

5. A safety lock according to claim 1, wherein the pair of memberscomprises a pair of plate-like structures in face-to-face relation.

6. A safety lock comprising a pair of members adapted to be connectedwith one part to be latched, a pin adapted to be connected with a secondpart, means for interconnecting said pin with the pair of members, and alock member for preventing withdrawal of the pin from the pair ofmembers, said lock member being manually movable jointly with the pairof members to release the pin from interconnected relation with the pairof members, said lock member having an angular slot therein, and saidpair of members having portions projecting into the slot for controllingrelative movement therebetween.

7. A safety lock comprising a pair of members adapted to be connectedwith one part to be latched, a pin adapted to be connected with a secondpart, means for interconnecting said pin with the pair of members, and alock member for preventing withdrawal of the pin from the pair ofmembers, said lock member being normally movable jointly with the pairof members to release the pin from interconnected relation with the pairof members, said lock member being slidable lengthwise of the membersand having a U-shaped slot therein, pins carried by the respectivemembers and extending into the slot in positions to control relativemotions between the lock members and the pair of members.

S. A .safety lock comprising a pair of members arranged in faceto-facerelation, means pivotally connecting the members together at one end,said members having aligned openings therein, a pin extending throughthe aligned openings and detachable therefrom in one position of themembers, means yieldably urging the members apart to prevent removal ofthe pin, a lock member slidably mounted between the pair of members inguided relation toward and from the pivot, means yieldably urging thelook member in one direction, said lock member having a U-shaped slottherein, lugs on the respective members extending into the slot inpositions to control movement of the members, said pair of members andlock member having handles thereon for respective movementssubstantially at right angles to each other.

9. A safety lock according to claim 8, including means for connectingthe pair of members together.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 424,346 3/1890 Palmer 292-54629,147 7/1899 Blasins 292-207 X 689,074 12/1901 Ferris 292-207 X706,272 8/1902 Stimson. 1,201,109 10/1916 Stephens 24-211 2,936,189 5/1960 Pearson.

FOREIGN PATENTS 604,941 7/1948 Great Britain.

RICHARD E. MOGRE, Primary Examiner.

Dedication 3,384,406.-Earl E Welch, Madison, and Be'mard P. Raiser`Covent Station, NJ. SAFETY LOCKS. Patent dated May 21, 1968. Dedicationied Nov. 17, 1969, by the assignee, Wel-K ids, I no. Hereby dedicates tothe Public the remaining portion of the term of sa id patent.

[Oficial Gazette Februay 10, 1970.]

